After reading, consider the following questions. “The Declaration of Independence,” delivered on July 4, 1776 in Congress, is one of the documents upon which our country was founded. You are going to review it this week to explore its relation to what it means to be an American.
Please be as specific as possible in your answers. Use evidence wherever possible, but also include your own words in every answer. Answer questions on a separate sheet of paper.
What is the purpose of this document as Jefferson states in the first paragraph?
What two things have become “necessary” for the colonists to do? Look for infinitive (‘to –‘) verbs for help here. Once you find these objectives, put them into your own words.
In the context of the sentence, what do you think “self-evident” means?
The “unalienable rights” listed by the Declaration writers are “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Define what each of these three things means to you. Use complete sentences.
What is the purpose of government, according to Jefferson?
What should men do (reworded from: what happens when) when a government becomes destructive of these rights?
Under what conditions should governments not be changed?
What stated or implied checks on individual freedom are contained in the document?
Who is the source of the colonists’ difficulty? What do they suggest he might have done?
State, in your own words, the Dream contained in this document.
What is most persuasive about the structure of this argument?
Strong opening statement
Parallel structure using "that"
Deductive Argument : argument structure in which if the premises are true, it is impossible for the conclusion to be false.
All men are mortal. PREMISE ONE
Socrates is a man. PREMISE TWO
Therefore, Socrates is mortal. CONCLUSION
As we watch a bit of the minseries today - identify the deductive argument in the preamble.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
After reading, consider the following questions. “The Declaration of Independence,” delivered on July 4, 1776 in Congress, is one of the documents upon which our country was founded. You are going to review it this week to explore its relation to what it means to be an American.
Please be as specific as possible in your answers. Use evidence wherever possible, but also include your own words in every answer. Answer questions on a separate sheet of paper.
What is most persuasive about the structure of this argument?
As we watch a bit of the minseries today - identify the deductive argument in the preamble.